Environmental Stewardship

A lot of the Charity’s work is dedicated to the management and conservation of some 170 acres of wonderful landscape around Walberswick village. 
Much of this is focused on the Common - the large NW area shown in red on the map below - but all of the Charity's land is actively looked after.

ES Update September 2026

There is a great deal of concern in the Village as we reflect on the loss of Dunwich Heath in the recent Wildfire. This is compounded by a sense of helplessness as to how to make a difference locally or further afield.
An idea that Jane Sutherland-Rogers brought to my attention was to work out how to use What3Words to store the Fire Access points listed in the WCLC Fire Response Plan so that they are accessible should they be needed.
There will no doubt be repercussions and changes in land management strategy as a result of this summer and we are fortunate in having a good working relationship with Natural England as WCLC Environmental Stewardship Advisors. WCLC is as keen as anyone to preserve and enhance the habitat mosaic and biodiversity of its’ lands.
The absence of BBQs on the beach during the recent Eclipse was testimony to the desire of most people to do the right thing and the big banner on the Cliff Field car park bridge very clearly states what that looks like. 
There is still a while to go before any vigilance can be relaxed so do please take care.
Vanessa Tucker

For well over 15 years we have worked in partnership with Natural England under a Countryside Stewardship Agreement, renewed from January 2024. This agreement ensures that the Charity is able to continue its environmental work until at least 2028.

The vast majority of this work is devoted to improving the diversity of habitat on the Common. Our aim here is to provide a mosaic of vegetation which allows all heathland features to flourish, including pioneer heath and bare ground which benefits rarer invertebrates, birds, reptiles and plants. In recent years, nightjars and nightingales returned to the Common and there have been at least five calling male nightjars - an unusual and distinctive churring trill.
If cattle or sheep were able to roam freely across the Common as they did many years ago, the more invasive species would be kept in check and a greater diversity of vegetation maintained. But nowadays the number of walkers with dogs would mean that any livestock would have to be fenced in. That would then destroy the free-roaming, unenclosed nature of the landscape which is the essence of a Common.